ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the authorities concerned to expand IT exports to over $30 billion in the coming years.
While appreciating the Ministry of Information Technology’s achievement of the previous year’s IT export target of $3.8bn, the prime minister instructed the formulation of a comprehensive action plan with annual targets and concrete measures to surpass the $30bn mark, according to an press release issued by the PM Office.
Chairing a meeting to review initiatives of the National Information Technology Board (NITB) and the Ministry of Information Technology, the prime minister said the government was taking measures to boost the economy through digitisation, aligning it with modern global requirements.
Highlighting the development of a complete digital ecosystem to reach the $30bn IT export target, he directed the restructuring of NITB and the recruitment of best talent from the market.
Orders restructuring of NITB, recruitment of best talent from the private sector
He praised the establishment of centres aimed at making youth, especially women, self-reliant in the IT sector, noting that thousands were securing respectable employment through the Digital Youth Hub and becoming capable of competing internationally.
The prime minister observed that the implementation of the e-Office system had led to paperless governance in government institutions, resulting in time and resource savings.
During the briefing on the restructuring of NITB and initiatives of the Ministry of IT, it was revealed that in the financial year 2025, the country’s IT exports achieved a 19 per cent growth, surpassing the $3.8bn target. The number of freelancers in the country also increased by 91pc.
Under the National Incubation Centre, 386 new startups were supported, 14 showcased on the global stage, and 40 e-employment centres were established in 26 cities across the country.
Four Pakistani teams ranked among the top 50 globally at Black Hat MEA, and investment agreements and MoUs worth $700 million were signed.
Additionally, approximately 315,000 students, including around 115,000 women, were provided professional IT training to promote gender inclusivity in the sector. The National Incubation Centre supported 130 women-led startups, and dedicated training centres for women were established nationwide. About 2,200 federal government officers and staff received training, while nearly 3,000 students were trained in cybersecurity.
The meeting was informed that Rs6.2bn in taxes had been collected through the Pak-App. The e-Office system had reached 98pc implementation in federal offices, with 51 new systems introduced to improve governance.
Regarding the telecom sector, it was informed that the target of providing 4G access to over 580,000 people was exceeded last year. Telecom connections crossed 200m, with one million new internet users and a 24pc increase in internet usage during the last fiscal year.
On the NITB’s progress, it was informed that work on a modern system aligned with contemporary needs was nearing completion. The board is currently managing over 179 websites, more than 31 mobile applications, over 113 portals, and 57 consultancy projects.
The NITB’s restructuring is focused on improving user experience, preparing for future developments, building modern infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity and governance, enhancing service delivery, promoting research and innovation, and expanding workforce capacity.
Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025